Tsali Ultra 2027

Tsali Ultra runs on dirt for nearly the entire day, with 95% of the course on unpaved trail within the Tsali Trail System near Almond, North Carolina. This annual race takes place in January in the Nantahala National Forest, offering 30K, 50K, and 8K distances. Capped at 300 runners, it typically fills before registration closes, creating an atmosphere more akin to an exclusive trail gathering than a large road-race event. The course utilizes the Tsali Recreation Area adjacent to Fontana Lake, featuring four primary loops totaling approximately 40 miles of trail. Participants navigate well-maintained singletrack and old logging roads, with vistas of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area is also popular with mountain bikers, horseback riders, campers, paddlers, and anglers, and Tsali has been recognized as one of the top 10 riding destinations in the United States. The race is open to both novice and seasoned runners, begins at an elevation of roughly 1,711 feet, ascends to about 2,086 feet, and offers no prize money, emphasizing the appeal of the trail system itself.